Once plaque has accumulated, an artery cannot be easily cleared. On the other hand, making healthy food choices, exercising, and quitting smoking can enhance cardiovascular health and prevent blockages from getting worse. Medication or surgery might be required in some circumstances.
The accumulation of a material known as plaque can obstruct an individual's arteries. There are important lifestyle adjustments that people can take to prevent plaque from accumulating further and to enhance their heart health, but there are no quick remedies for eliminating plaque .
When blocked arteries are severe, surgery or other medical treatments may be necessary to remove them. In addition, a physician may recommend statins or aspirin, two medications that lower cholesterol.
For additional information on preventing plaque accumulation, continue reading. Along with risk factors for clogged arteries, this page also covers potential sequelae from clogged arteries.
What are clogged arteries?
Plaque is a combination of waste products from the body's cells, fat, cholesterol, and calcium. This mixture has the ability to adhere to the walls of arteries, narrowing the blood vessels. This condition is known as atherosclerosis.
If a person has blocked or clogged arteries that stop fresh blood from reaching specific parts of their body, they may be at risk for a heart attack, heart failure, or stroke.
Preventing clogged arteries
By making the following lifestyle adjustments, people can avoid clogged arteries:
Avoiding saturated fats
The kind of fat that accumulates in an individual's arteries might be influenced by their diet. The British Heart Foundation suggests cutting back on saturated fat intake. This kind of fat contains high levels of LDL cholesterol, a substance that clogs arteries.
Saturated fats are mostly present in animal products including dairy, cattle, and pig as well as in coconut and palm oils.
Reducing saturated fat intake and increasing unsaturated fat intake was found to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular problems, albeit marginally and potentially significantly, according to a 2015 evaluation of scientific studies.
According to a 2017 study, saturated fats raise LDL cholesterol levels in the body, which is directly linked to heart problems, hence individuals should avoid them.
Eating more unsaturated fats
HDL cholesterol, which is found in unsaturated fats, has the ability to remove bad cholesterol from the arteries before it has a chance to form plaque .
Blood cholesterol levels may be raised by consuming unsaturated fats rather than saturated fats.
The two main sources of unsaturated fats are plants and fatty seafood. Among the sources are:
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Avocado
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Olives
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Walnuts
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Some Vegetable Oils Including Sunflower And Olive
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Fatty Fish, Including Trout, Herring, And Salmon
Adopting additional heart-healthy eating guidelines
A diet high in the following foods is advised by the American Heart Association (AHA) for those trying to reduce their LDL cholesterol:
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Whole Fruits And Vegetables
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Nuts
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Whole Grains
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Low-fat Dairy
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Fish
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Poultry
They also recommend staying away from red meat, drinks with added sugar, and foods high in sugar.
Find out more about the foods that can help control artery blockage.
Drinking herbal teas
Herbal teas could be a heart- healthy alternative to conventional drinks.
Green tea has been shown in a 2020 study to help reduce LDL and total cholesterol. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, however, was unaffected.
A 2016 study found that taking supplements of ginger may potentially enhance important markers that can result in cardiovascular events. In addition to being available as supplements, users can make tea by steeping ginger root in hot water.
Getting enough exercise on a regular basis
Heart disease and plaque accumulation are both exacerbated by obesity. A person may maintain a healthy weight and lower their risk of cardiac issues by engaging in regular exercise or obtaining enough physical activity in addition to eating a balanced diet.
Regular engagement in cardiovascular exercise, or "cardio," has been linked to heart strengthening and plaque reduction.
Basic aerobic exercises that increase heart rate include:
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Jogging
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Cycling
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Running
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Brisk Walking
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Swimming
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Playing Tennis
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Doing Aerobics
It is recommended that an individual strive for a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intense physical exercise and two days dedicated to strength training per week. A doctor could suggest a certain fitness regimen for a patient depending on their lifestyle.
Stopping smoking
One of the main risk factors for heart disease and blocked arteries is smoking. It may accelerate and increase the size of fatty deposits, directly harming the arteries.
If a person is thinking about stopping smoking, they should speak with their doctor.
Reducing stress levels
Atherosclerosis risk may rise with stress.
Some people may find that using stress-reduction tactics helps them unwind after a demanding day. As examples, consider:
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Yoga
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Meditation
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Breathing Exercises
Medication
A person may require medical intervention to attempt and mitigate the effects of clogged arteries when preventative measures are ineffective.
In addition to dietary modifications, a doctor could advise using drugs to lower LDL cholesterol. Statins are one type of them.
Surgery
One may need surgery to treat a clogged artery. This can entail putting a stent in place to strengthen the arterial walls and improve blood flow, and then inserting a tube into the artery to remove the plaque.
In cases of severe blockages, physicians may opt to carry out a cardiac bypass procedure in order to ensure that blood can bypass the clogged artery.
A fully interactive three-dimensional model of atherosclerosis can be found below. You can use your touchscreen or mouse pad to explore this model.
Risk factors for clogged arteries
People can control certain risk factors for clogged arteries on their own, such as:
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High Blood Pressure
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Smoking
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Un healthy Cholesterol Levels
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Diabetes
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Lack Of Physical Activity
A person's physician can offer more details regarding the risk factors for clogged arteries as well as suggestions for further risk reduction measures.
Complications
If left untreated, clogged arteries can result in problems like:
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Plaque accumulation in the arteries around the heart causes heart disease.
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Angina is a disorder where the heart's inability to receive enough blood causes chest pain.
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Peripheral artery disease, in which the arms and legs accumulate plaque .
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Preventing problems can be achieved by taking measures to lower the likelihood of clogged arteries.
Frequently asked questions
These are some of the most common queries concerning obstructed arteries.
Which symptoms indicate that your arteries are clogged?
Sometimes clogged arteries don't show any signs. Pain in the arms, legs, and chest can be one of the signs of atherosclerosis. Other possible symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, weakness, and shortness of breath.
What age does blocked arteries begin?
Over time, arteries usually get increasingly blocked. The older a someone is, the higher their risk becomes.
Is it possible to perform a home arteries check?
It is not feasible to perform an at-home arteries clearance procedure. To look for clogged arteries, a doctor could prescribe imaging tests and blood tests.
What is the quickest method for clearing your arteries?
Changes in food and lifestyle can help unclog arteries, but this is usually a gradual process. In severe circumstances, a physician might suggest medical interventions.
Which beverage clears arteries?
Herbal teas, like green tea, have been linked to a possible treatment for clogged arteries. To stop more plaque buildup, a person might need to alter their food and way of life in addition to doing other preventative measures.
In brief
At any stage of life, the best defense against clogged arteries is to take measures to prevent or slow down the creation of plaque . This is particularly beneficial for those who are at risk of developing atherosclerosis or plaque development.
One can take some actions, such as selecting unsaturated fats over saturated fats, consuming herbal teas, exercising regularly, giving up smoking, and controlling stress. Medical treatments could be required in some situations.
A physician can discuss any required treatment or preventive measures as well as food and lifestyle recommendations based on a patient's needs and present capabilities.
